Wednesday 5 March 2014

COOK OF THE HOUSE (Part One & Two)




"NO MATTER WHERE I SERVE MY GUESTS, THEY SEEM TO LIKE MY KITCHEN BEST
CAUSE I'M THE COOK OF THE HOUSE"
( Paul Mc Cartney and Wings)

Last Sunday, Fatima  and I drove down to Seattle, Washington and attended a Fabulous miniature show and sale.
We both had sooooo much fun!:D


Most of what I bought was with the kitchen of
Green Dolphin Street in mind.  When I was getting it all out to take the photos, I began adding some of the other mini kitchen treasures that are also in waiting for the kitchen's completion.  The results are that you are going to see what is new and what is old, what is on hand but that may never make it in because of lack of space or changing plans.  I know that I have much more than will actually fit into that  teeny tiny kitchen of the Arthur doll's house, but for this posting I am going to pretend that All of it will.
cause
 I AM
 The Cook of the House!
:D

some of my collection for the kitchen
 left:  a new white chipped, kitchen scale from the Seattle show which is  holding one of Beauxminis  yummy deli roll; ( high in FAT'S, of course heehee )  The bottle of red wine is from a former dollar store fridge magnet.
 at right:  from the U.K is Janet Brownhill's pickled tomatoes and onions ( yay, Seattle Show) I  love these and I have lusted for them for years and years.  They are shown with a bowl of air dry clay Mushrooms and an empty tin can by Twin heart Miniatures.   This artist makes wonderful air dry clay fruits and vegetables and Orchids that are as thin as paper and Magnificent!!! 
 I bought one for Fatima who had her birthday in February.  
 A HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MY DEAR FRIEND! :-D
Another friend of mine from years ago,  PEARL JOHNSTON, made the celery and very small white button mushrooms.  
 The brown mushrooms, by me.
The pepper grinder, was removed from a Hallmark Christmas Ornament.  Perfect for my mini kitchen.
In the white bowl are more of Twin Heart's Fabulous air clay mushrooms .
The kitchen cleaver is home- made from an old, broken Exacto blade.
Rather than toss the blade out, I recycled it and made a knife handle for it so that I could have a chef's knife for when slicing and dicing a la "Julia Child" in the movie "Julie and Julia"


Here are some additional TWIN HEART  Veggies.  The leaf lettuce, the ice berg, and the red cabbage are all by her.  The basket of green beans was in a rummage box of "everything/ $2 each".  
Two bucks?
 What a Steal of a Deal!!!
(When I got them home, I gave them a bit of extra dimension by adding a touch of Oak glaze to the edges of the beans so they were not all so visually flat mat green. )

 I'm very happy with my 2 dollar bean basket!!
The tomatoes are foam balls of an artificial plant from craft store, which I painted with glass paints and then glued bits of plastic foliage to the top.  The brown mushrooms are also the stamens from artificial flowers that I re-painted and re-purposed. Since this posting is quite lengthy, I will follow it up Right Away with a
TUTORIAL ON HOW I MADE THEM.
These red onions are some that I purchased from the Seattle Show way back in the 1990's.
They are ceramic.  I love the way all of the mini vegetables are of different mediums.
The faux wood knife block was part of a  Halmark Christmas piece that was removed from its original ornament.  I repainted the knife handles with black nail enamel.
This cabbage is also ceramic  but the spring onions are by me and are the stamens from  artificial flowers.  Personally, I am still not happy with the stems as they look like the texture of asparagus spears.  The color is off as well , but the bulbs are pretty good.  Half good and half bad. Needs more work
Oh well....
Back to the Cutting Board!

:[
 In Seattle, I bought another rooster!
I have an identical one in "GOTHICA" and I love it!   I should have bought  2!
The kitchen baskets were from TWIN HEART MINIATURES
the carrots are by PEARL JOHNSTON and also from part of Mexican Souvenir that I purchased from a thrift store.  I repainted the clay carrots with orange fabric paint to gloss them up because prior to that they just looked like dull sticks of "Ugly"that NO ONE would want to eat.
I made these potatoes using a great Tutorial from VICTORIA MINILAND.   I have found that making potatoes is not as easy as it looks.  These took me a long time to do because the colors of the chalk was not transferring onto the fimo potato like I wanted.  I was mixing it either too red or too brown, too light or too dark.  I eventually gave up trying to color them with the chalks and used my transparent gel stains which worked better for me.  Anyway, here they are, in a cheap basket that also use to be a part of the Mexican Souvenir from the thrift store.
Something's Fishy?
Don't pay any attention to the ice cubes because they stink!  They are from a bag of  pre- chopped acrylic rods that I bought quite a while back. They look artificial.  I viewed a tutorial  that chopped up suction cups that looked far more realistic, but this is will have to do for now.
The fish came from the Sporting Goods section of Canadian Tire, a national hardware/ home improvement  chain.  They were fishing lures and I had to very carefully detach the dangerous hook from their insides, hence the slice in the belly. 
                                                         The fish scales are iridescent.
                        The bodies are made of a type of flexible latex so they wiggle and wobble.
Way Cool!
Just before I leave this little kitchen, I would like to show you my resurfaced copper stock pot originally from my tutorial
"What's for Dinner?"

It is painted with Porcelain Touch Up paint that I bought at LOWE'S.  I painted it inside and out and then I aged the heck out of it, with a variety of gel stains.
The grater is from my tutorial " A Grater Love" and the tall jar of pasta is from my "Spaghetti" tutorial.

Lastly, the bottle of Olive Oil is a piece from a Japanese Re-Ment kitchen collection.


*****
You have just finished the Grand Tour . 
 But now I would like to show you a quick and easy method of 
"growing" your own mushrooms
in
 COOK OF THE HOUSE
  PART TWO
I found some plastic flower stamens that I thought looked like like Mushrooms.
They had a lot of excess flashing on them which I trimmed away with some scissors.

Now Ready to paint

 I Used an off white acrylic paint as the base coat

Used a 50/50 mix of this mat gel medium mixed with the acrylic paint
which helps it to stick to the plastic and doesn't dilute the original color.
   
The base color and the gel medium

Mix together and paint onto the stamens

I used a blow dryer to speed up the drying time
then I added a mushroom color to my paint pallet



I mixed the mushroom colored paint in with some of the off-white and then painted it onto the heads of the stamens


Again I used a blow dryer to hurry things along
Added a drop of Burnt Sienna acrylic paint to the pallet 

The dark brown was used to detail around the edge of the mushroom caps and to spot the stems
dried with the blow dryer and then I snipped the mushrooms off of the plastic stems
and touched up the ends with more brown paint 


Using some Oak gel stain that has a golden color, I added some to the tops of the caps for added interest and to break up the flatness of them.
The final results are what you see below.
Other than the tiny white mushrooms and the ones in the white bowl, all of the ones pictured are made by me from plastic flower stems
YUM!
BON APPETITE!

elizabeth







95 comments:

  1. It all looks so super delicious. I love the glass with onions so great a detail. So many beautiful details. I have been lucky to be in Seattle once and I come to think of the market down by the water. All your food could be bought there!: It is so completely lifelike.
    You make it look so easy out with the championg, although I practiced from now until Christmas Eve, I would failed.
    Hugs
    Wyrna

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    1. Hi Wyrna! Thank you for enjoying this posting. I too love the canning jars of pickled tomatoes and onions! I never thought that I would be able to own any because Janet Brownhill only sells at shows and not on-line. The vendor that I purchased these from, had some Incredible miniatures that I would have LOVED to have as my own, but nevertheless, I am DELIGHTED to be able to add these 2 jars of English pickles to my little English Kitchen.
      The fish market that you are remembering is on PIKE STREET and is quite famous and featured in the movie "SLEEPLESS IN SEATLE".
      As to failing with the mushrooms, don't even think it!!! The tutorial was done all in the space of an hour and none of them are perfect or even meant to be. If I can do it, so then can YOU and you could probably do it even better, because you are far more precise when painting, than I am. :D
      Have a go Wyrna, and I am certain that you will be pleasantly surprised at just how VERY EASY they are.

      elizabeth

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  2. I can see that you and your friend had some marvellous time and you did great shopping!
    I have also been to Seattle, once..a long time ago! Always wishing to be able to make that journey again :)
    Hugs
    Kikka

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    1. Hi Kikka! Yes, Fat's and I had a Wonderful Time in Seattle at the show and apparently Sunday was a good day to go because on the Saturday there were over 800 attendees! Sunday was busy but you could still get to the tables and linger. I like to linger and try to circumvent the room at least a couple of times before I settle in. I hope that you will get to go again Kikka! I almost thought that were were going to have to cancel going because the snow started up once again early Sunday morning and followed us right into Washington State. Then it turned to rain. Fatima got us safely down to the show and later back home again and now we both get to PLAY with our new toys! :D
      There is More to show but I shall save it for a little later

      elizabeth

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  3. Thanks for sharing the mushroom tutorial. I've tried to make mine out of fimo and altho they turned out ok, I like yours much better. Love the scale too!
    regards
    Diane
    http://myminiaturesjournal.blogspot.com/

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    1. Hi Diane! The mushroom tutorial was the kind that I like to do, something that doesn't require a whole lot of skill, is inexpensive and gives you "the Look". I had trouble with making the potatoes out of fimo and I can't imagine even trying to make fimo mushrooms. Congratulations to you for at least having a go. I bought 5 air clay mushrooms from Twin Heart Miniatures because I know that I shall never even try. The ones that I repurposed from the flower stamens, are a decent substitution for those who might enjoy a "short cut" like I always do. :))
      Thanks for liking the scale Diane. I was over the moon when I found it! Happy Happy dancing! :D

      elizabeth

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  4. Estoy impresionada por el realismo de todos tus alimentos. Tienes una despensa bien provista.
    Muchas gracias por el tutorial de las setas.
    Un abrazo
    Victoria

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    1. Thanks for the Compliments Victoria! :D I only wish that I had MORE ROOM in the doll's house kitchen to be able to display even a small portion of the stuff in all of the photos. I will have to look for ways to increase storage in the kitchen after I get the appliances installed. Meanwhile, I am glad that you enjoyed the Mushroom tutorial. When I get to the landscaping part of the project, I may just decide to make some Toadstools too!

      elizabeth

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  5. Hello Elizabeth,

    Wonderful food and a great how-to! Many thanks for sharing :-)

    Cheers,
    Julie

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    1. Hi Julie! I am so glad that you have enjoyed the food presentation and that you have also enjoyed the Mushroom Tutorial. I have had the stamens hanging about waiting to get done but it wasn't until I began discovering all of the other related items that I considered including it as part of this posting. I hope that you will give these a try. In real life, I LOVE the taste of mushrooms especially when sauteed in butter... Pure Bliss!!!

      elizabeth

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  6. Thanks for sharing your mushroom tutorial Elizabeth, now Im going to have to search your blog to the others :)

    Hugs
    Marisa

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    1. Hi Marisa! You are soooo Welcome! Search away dear lady! :D

      elizabeth

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  7. Gracias por esas bonitas fotos de la feria. Las setas están fenomenal

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    1. Hi Isabel! I was Thrilled to be able to go to the Seattle Show and glad later to get back home again. It was a long day for both Fatima and I. After the show, we took the opportunity to visit a Value Village thrift store just a block away and then Joann's fabrics and craft store all within walking distance from each other. Needless to say, we had a Merry old time in each place! :D
      Fatima suggested that I should perhaps do "a Show Haul" blog post, which then turned into the Mushroom Tutorial, as an "add on". I am glad that you enjoyed them both! :D

      elizabeth

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  8. They all look fantastic no matter what they were made of. I loved your tutorial on making the onions. Thank you for showing us that.
    I bet the Seattle show was great. I would have loved going to that one. Did you take any pictures. Those would be fun to see.

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    1. Hi Catherine! I think of myself as an "Equal Opportunity Employer". I am not too particular about the origins of something just as long as it gives a good impersonation of being BETTER than what it was! :D Now that I have seen the way the green onions look on screen, I have painted the stems with a green fabric paint that has made them look more like they should have looked to begin with. A picture IS worth a Thousand Words.
      I only took a few shots of some of the displays but I have tried to Google them up and they have only the descriptions of the exhibits and not the images. Perhaps later they will be available.
      Sylvia Roundtree ( the Doll's Cobbler ), was one of the vendors that encouraged both Fatima and I to try and plan for a trip to Chicago and/or Philadelphia. Now THAT for me, would be the Show of Shows. I believe now Fatima's wheels are seriously turning.... hmmm, I wonder, is she thinking what I'm thinking???? :))

      elizabeth

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  9. This is a great collection, so many things for the kitchen, that's perfect. Everything looks so real.
    Geneviève

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    1. Hi Genevieve! Thank You! Just like you, I Love stuff for the kitchen. :)) It is all of the little gadgets and the food items that I Always find totally Fascinating! I always have Favorite Things in every room but for the kitchen it is difficult to choose which item(s) I LOVE THE MOST. There are so many bits and pieces, and each one is a Treasure to me. The hardest thing is Editing! Not everything will fit so naturally, some must be left out. :(.. but only for now, can I pretend that it will All be included. :D

      elizabeth

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  10. I love the way you mix all sorts of elements (fishes coming from the sporting store, the knife block from a Halmark Christmas piece, revisited plastic flower stamens as mushrooms) and get a realistic and perfect effect.

    Anything in your hands becomes a treasure!

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    1. Hi Ersilia! Thank you so much!!! :))
      I so enjoy mixing the High with the Low and making it all work together. The fish were a find and I hope that fishing hasn't become so high tech with fishing lures, that they will have stopped making them. I will have to make a return trip to the Home Improvement Store to see if they are still available but a fish and tackle shop should have SOMETHING that we miniaturists can use. I was a little reluctant to remove the accessories from the Christmas Ornament but I am glad I did. The piece that it was originally attached to, did not look to scale but the items glued to the surface did, so off they came. I am much happier with them off, rather than on. :))
      It makes me happy that you have enjoyed the mushroom tutorial. It was so easy to do and like you have said, the results are realistic and perfect if you need lots! I have found that plastic flower stamens are not as easy to find as they use to be but dollar stores and second hand stores that carry very artificial looking plastic plants are a good place to begin searching. The cheaper the better! The better the treasure! :D

      elizabeth

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    2. You have a really stocked storehouse of goodies. This means only one thing...you have to make another kitchen or something because they all are too good to waste! How in the world would you choose which to use? :-)

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    3. Hi Grandmommy! Yes, Ain't it Grand? :D My own cupboards are not nearly so full of such good stuff to eat! I am still in a daze having realized my dream of owning the Janet Brownhill English Canning jars and of finding the kitchen scale! No doubt I WILL be transferring some of the above into a New Kitchen Project. And you are correct in assuming that it will be difficult to choose what stays and what goes back into the box. This is still only a fragment of what is tucked away! I only wish that I wasn't such an dawdler and slowpoke about getting things finished. I still have a tiny little doll's house that has been in progress since 1998. I keep squirreling things away for it but never actually work on it. The Arthur is the same story so I am trying to motivate myself by dangling a mini carrot or two in front of my nose to try to keep me moving forward.
      So far it doesn't seem to be working. :(

      yet :))

      elizabeth

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  11. que tout cela est appétissant ! que de jolies choses pour garnir votre cuisine
    merci pour le tutoriel des champignons

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    1. Hello Claude! It is a Real Success when it all looks "Appetizing" as it is very important when comes to food items :)) That is why I had to polish up the flat- looking green beans and wonky Mexican carrots and now as well, the green stems of the spring onions because they did not look the least bit appealing in their original presentations. A little paint can definitely go a Very Long way; as is seen with the mushrooms. And Thank you for enjoying the tutorial! :D

      elizabeth

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  12. todo me ha encantado, pero la idea de las setas es buenísima...gracias!

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    1. Hi Carmen! I am Delighted that you have enjoyed the Tutorial on the Mushrooms. It was good fun for me to do and as flower stamens come in a variety of sizes and shapes, the variety of mushrooms that can be made can be quite interesting and exciting. I hope and encourage you to give it a try! :D

      elizabeth

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  13. Elisabeth Wow! These are wonderful! The idea of ​​making mushroom masterful! Thank you for sharing with us. ( I do not know, where I get those plastic flowers. Substituting with something. :)
    kiss
    Anda

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anda! I think that I have looked in all of the craft stores, dollar stores, thrift and charity shops for what might work and the best venues have been the charity and thrift stores and the dollar stores. Sometimes you have to look beyond the petals but look for small flower clusters because they are more likely to work than single stem flowers. In the charity shops, plastic flowers, that use to be all the rage when I was young, have been regularly found cast out and at the bottom of the heap in the thrift stores. PERFECT for all of us!!! So Don't give up!

      elizabeth

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  14. Great finds at the Seattle show, Elizabeth! Thanks so much for sharing. I love your mushroom tutorial too. I'm going to see things differently from now on! xo Jennifer

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    1. Helloooo Jennifer! I am so sorry that you were not feeling well enough to attend! You missed a Terrific show and lots of exciting vendors! The displays were wonderful too and the "Best of Show" was a two building compound of Santa' s Workshop in 1 / 12 scale along with a stable for the reindeer and sleeping quarters above for the elves! It was truly Wonderful!!!

      And so was all the shopping! :D

      elizabeth

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  15. You never fail to inspire me. You find the best uses for things that we would normally toss. I bet you could get the stamens for the mushrooms for free if you found them laying around the craft store near the flower displays. Maybe they would even pay you to pick them up. HAHA

    It is so nice to be back in Blog land surrounded by such talent!

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    1. HELLO DALE FLUTY!!!! How Wonderful to see you back in Blogland! I was on you blog not long ago, reviewing your mini Book Tutorial once again, and now here you are enjoying my mini Mushrooms Tutorial. Yay!
      As you can see by the stamens, they are of rather common origins and so they might well be "free for the picking" as you have mentioned, heeheehee I only wish that MORE GOOD STUFF was. I have often objected to laying down a dollar for something that Should be Free, but have also spent more than I should on genuine "trash", just because I could see it's future possibilities. hey... Go figure? :/

      Welcome Back Dale! :D

      elizabeth

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  16. WOW Elizabeth, you and Fatima didn't only visited a miniature fair in Seatlle, I think you have bought all miniatures there were ;)!! Awesome miniatures and it is so good to hear, that you both had a great time! Thanks for sharing the tut of the mushrooms, what a great find.
    Hugs, Ilona

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  17. Hey Ilona! I DID leave some minis there, believe me!!! hahah What you see on the table is an accumulation of stuff that I have been collecting for a very long time, mixed in with some of the new pieces from the Seattle show. They use to have 2 shows a year, both in March and then again in September but for now it is strictly March only so it was a case of NOW or NOT AT ALL!

    and as the saying goes one should "Make Hay, while the Sun Shines"

    I'm Glad that you like the tutorial, Ilona ... Many Thanks :D

    elizabeth

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  18. Dear Elizabeth, did I tell you that you are Amazingly Talented, Creative, Artistic, Resourceful, Imaginative, Generous and... and ... and You made me Hungry! LOL! The items you have gathered over the years are Gorgeous and Perfect and ... yummy looking! But the Mushrooms from plastic flower parts is Awesome! And Beyond Awesome are the Fish... wiggly no less! made from fishing lures!!!! GENIUS!!! They have slits in their bellies.... just like cleaned fish do!!! I am off to find me a fishing tackle store!!! And you didn't even have to paint them yourself! WOW! As for the trinkets from the Seattle Show... great finds! But don't ever buy more than one Rooster at a Time... hens, yes, Roosters No! They will spend all their time trying to kill each other! LOL! I really REALLY look forward to seeing how you are coming with the Kitchen of Green Dolphin Street! (I know... I'm a fine one to wish you were hurrying with Your Kitchen.... my Folly Kitchen has been languishing for Years! Perhaps I should collect some food for it....!!) As usual... your work is such an inspiration to me! Thank you for sharing all your creative ideas! :)

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  19. Hi Betsy! I LOVE your comment, Thank You! :D In actual fact, You are right about a second Rooster.... What was I thinking?!!!! :0
    The fish were a great discovery and as these were from some years ago, I hope that they will not be too difficult to find again. Not having to paint them or to do Anything at all with them other than carefully remove the hooks was a real Treat!
    I am very happy that you have enjoyed the Mushroom Tutorial Betsy! They were very quick and an easy way to fill a basket or a grocery shelf, and I am all about convenience ! hahaha
    I HAVE made a little bit of progress on the kitchen stairs and they could be installed right now but I am thinking through a hand rail solution and not yet sure what would be best. Once that is figured out, the stove and the sink and possibly a under-counter refrigerator can be made. Still a long way to go and I always seem to have to light a fire under my bum just to even dabble with it.

    Meanwhile, I'll just play with the kitchen stuff and dream...... dream.... dream..... zzzzzzz........-. -



    elizabeth

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  20. Again fine lady you fill my mind with wonders! I always see the amazing things you create out of items I know I have... but alas... this foggy ole noggin takes more time to spark up "Eureka" moments. Good thing you are here ;)

    Your kitchen scene is filled with wonderful minis and your skills have created amazing realism in simple items.

    You know you have created fantastic mini food shots when your readers experience delightful forms of synesthesia! ohhhhhh I do believe a nice pan of garlic and roasted mushrooms is now in order!

    Bug hugs, js

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    1. Oh Jane! Roasted garlic and mushrooms in BUTTER! Oh my! You got me goin', Jane! ;D
      I am not much good at sculpting from scratch and excelling at it like you do, but I DO enjoy a rags to riches type of approach and get a lot of satisfaction in transforming the "weird" and " woebegone" into something wonderful.
      And I am so glad that you enjoy my mini "insanity"; it is very reassuring! :D

      elizabeth

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  21. Elizabeth, I cannot even begin to say how much I loved this post! I kind of have a not-so-secret addiction to kitchen minis (maybe because I love cooking in real life?). And what you did with those $2 beans has me re-evaluating my options with some of my clearance finds.
    All your goodies compliment each other so well, I'm sure the kitchen will really come to life. And that mushroom tutorial... if it wasn't 9pm at night I'd be heading out to the closest Dollarama to source some floral pieces right now! I can't wait to try it out, thanks for the idea :) I've just gotten into making pieces with clay but I'm definitely been inspired to try a bit more after this post. Have fun playing around with your new additions!! :)
    Kristine

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    1. Hi Kristine! I Thank You very much for those super kind words! Knowing that you also share a passion for many kitchen minis, is like having a soul sister. Little jars and bowl and baskets of produce seduce me. It is the intrigue of it all; the recognition of things that I am totally familiar with and yet am utterly fascinated by when they are reduced down in size. I can never get enough of "KITCHEN LITTLES"
      I really hope that you will get an opportunity to try the Mushroom Tutorial out. It goes fairly quickly and there are of course, other color combinations that you can see on Google. There are mushrooms that I have only just discovered, some in Delicious colors of golden browns and tans.

      Happy hunting at the Dollarama, Kristine! :D

      elizabeth

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  22. Hi! First of all Happy Birthday to your friend Fatima! Wow, what a great post, I enjoyed every picture (and got hungry, seriously :-).

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  23. Hi Nymphaea! I am sure that Fatima will appreciate all of your good wishes! :D
    I am So Pleased that you have enjoyed this posting. I can not tell you just how much fun it all was arranging the stuff on the table. Mind you when you are setting the scene for your dolls and arranging their poses, you must get the same kind of satisfaction. After viewing your posts on your dolls, I want to go shopping for another Barbie or Blythe to add to my doll collection.

    Seriously!
    :))

    elizabeth

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  24. un joyeux et excellent mélange de choses achetées et de créations personnelles !
    Vos champignons sont très bien faits. Avec tous ces aliments, il n'y a plus qu'a cuisiner et passer à table !
    Appétissant votre message Elizabeth ! Bisous. rosethé

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    1. Hi Rosethe'! Thank You! :)) Variety IS the spice of life, is it not? When I began pulling out some of the bits and pieces of my kitchen collection it was a challenge to arrange it in an visually appetizing way so that it could all be easily viewed and still give the appearance of abundance and prosperity. If it has been achieved then it's a Double Happiness!
      I am glad that you have enjoyed the little mushroom tutorial as well Rosethe'. A very inexpensive meal for the doll's house, I think. :D

      elizabeth

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  25. Привет, Элизабет!
    Я с удовольствием прочитала пост! Вы удивительный человек! У вас глаз художника! Любой бы прошел мимо цветочных тычинок. А вы увидели в них грибы! И какие грибы! Настоящие. Мне хочется бросить эти грибы на сковородку и потом, обжигаясь их съесть. Я всегда говорю, что вы волшебник и на вашей творческой кухне происходят чудеса! Капелька дождя, солнечный лучик, два вздоха и вот вам чудо!!!
    Татьяна

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    1. Hello Tatiana! You are such a poet at heart! Thank you my friend for your lovely words! :D I know that making Anything from polymer clay is NO PROBLEM for You because you are a Master of this medium! I am always in total AWE of what you are able to create. I have to take the short-cut approach and make do, but I am moved by your admiration of the Mushroom Tutorial. Plastic flower stamens and I have become very well acquainted! :))

      elizabeth

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  26. I like your collection food for the kitchen. Your mushrooms are very ralistic. Thanks for the tutorial.

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    1. Hi Fabiola! Thank You! :)) Yes, isn't the collection Fun? I love to look at it all together like this. I reminds me of a photo that I have squirreled away somewhere, that had an overflowing kitchen worktable that was LOADED with Everything edible that your heart could desire. Sort of like the Ghost of Christmas Present from Scrooge/ A Christmas Carol. Mine is not quite that full but it puts me in mind of Blessings in Abundance.

      elizabeth

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  27. What a great post and a great selection of kitchen minis. I especially liked the empty tin - very clever.

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    1. Hi Irene! I'm with you! Those little opened tin cans caught my eye immediately and yet I hesitated about buying them. It wasn't until I was back at the vendors for the 3rd time that I decided to cave in and get them, and Now I am soooo glad that I did. I think that they add "motion" to the table-scape and that something has already been done prior to our arrival. They are just little things but they make me Happy! :D
      I am glad that they caught your eye too!

      elizabeth

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  28. Elizabeth,
    I don't really know how it is that I have not seen your blog before now - Goodness what a feast of delight! Thank you for sharing your beautiful kitchen collection and your tips and tutorials!
    I have to tell you that I feel like we are peas in a pod. While reading your post above, I got the distinct feeling that we are very much alike in our methods and creative thought processes. I hope that doesn't sound presumptuous. Your use of 'bits and bobs' just tickles me to pieces as I am the same way. Hmmm, I'm having a hard time explaining, anyway, I don't want to embarrass myself nor you so I will stop now and just say....Wow! :) Going to go dig around in my hoard of stuff and see if I have some little stamens!

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  29. Hi Daphne! Say no more, and Thank You; I understand Completely! :D I enjoy the process of the transformation of common everyday object and turning sow's ears into My version of Silk Purses. Nothing is beneath my notice and I find all sorts of things on the ground as Dale Fluty mentioned, and not all of it is good, but I bring it home anyway and the next thing I know I have made something unexpected from it and then I have to deliberately search to see if I can find some More of that same garbage again. Sometimes I can, but not always. These little flower stamens are not available everywhere but second hand stores and dollar store outlets would be where I would look first because they would be cheaper at these places and plastic flowers are not in fashion right now.
    I would like to add that I have enjoyed your blog " In the Court of the Gypsies" ENORMOUSLY and the quality of the painted furniture that you have done is Jaw Dropping, GORGEOUS Daphne! Your latest posting of Typography on Furniture fooled me completely. I thought you were showing a Full-Sized Inspirational photo when in actuality it was All YOUR WORK in Miniature! Your work is Stunning and I am Delighted to have found your blog! :D

    elizabeth
    p.s. I thank you for the lovely comment that you left on "Light My Fire" and I am sooo sorry that I accidently erased it. I didn't mean to but I truly enjoyed every word! :))

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  30. Hello Elizabeth and hello to all of your followers. I missed the initial post day, so I've been making my way through all the posts. Not much more I can say that hasn't been said. Thank Nymphae for the birthday wishes. The show trip was very special as always. The show itself was awesome and recommend that anyone in close proximity plan on going. Both Elizabeth and I had great hauls. Loved the vegetables, as they were truly a great find by a new artisan to the show.
    Now to those amazing mushrooms... Love love love the tutorial Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing. Really want to make some now. You are so resourceful.

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  31. Can't wait for part two....
    Oh by the way, I will be posting my show purchases later on today. Thought you might like to see. I know I always love seeing what other people buy.
    See you soon at beauxminis.

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    1. Hey Fats! I will pay you a visit this evening as I am on my way to work right now. I am excited to see how you will use your Many Mini Finds in the Garfield Project! And how about those Stairs of yours, Madame President? ..... hmm?
      :D

      elizabeth

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  32. Got to keep it short......
    Great selection of foods.... I have been working an appetite just looking at the pics!
    Hugs,
    Gee

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    1. Hi Gee! I know just what you mean! I am always wanting to nibble and this posting has aggravated that particular habit. hahaha

      elizabeth

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  33. Oh it would have been a great day for you and Fatima shopping up large on minis. All your kitchen items are fabulous. I can't wait to see the finished kitchen, albeit small, all stocked up. I just know it will have so much character and life to it like the rest of the house so far. I think the potatoes and stock pot look fabulous and I will be looking at all the artificial flower stamens from now on.

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  34. HI JANINE!!! What a Wonderful Surprise to find you here today! :D
    There is no doubt about it, Fatima and I missed you Terribly and kept wishing you were there with us. :( Nevertheless, we were able to keep ourselves somewhat in check because your voice of reason was never too far from either of us. Greatly anticipating your return. Fatima is preparing for our next Miniteers Meeting once you and Bruce are back home again. And it will be a GOOD ONE!
    Love to you both in the Land down under the Down Under! :))

    elizabeth
    Be Safe

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  35. Hi Sharee! Thank You for your comment! :D It WAS a Great Day and since it was to be the only show that I could go to, it was well worth the trip! I loved looking for goodies to stock the future kitchen shelves with but now I must get busy and MAKE the shelves. And not just the shelves but the entire kitchen as well. So it is back to work and hopefully soon you will be able to see just how much of what is in these photos has actually made it into that teeny tiny kitchen.
    That will be an interesting challenge.

    elizabeth

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    1. If they are anything like my kitchen shelves it is amazing just how much you can pack into them not to mention how much you can get on a kitchen bench!

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    2. Hi again Sharee! I do believe that you are right about this! I have found the same to be true with regard to filling drawers, cupboards, baskets,... you name it! Often you think that you have too much at the start only then to discover that actually you don't have Enough!

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    3. Oh good! Than there is hope for the million little items I have collected simply because I just need to have them. Yay

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  36. How did I miss this? So good to hear from you. Yes you were missed but we reminded ourselves a number of times..."What would Janine say?" Have safe and pleasurable travels and come back soon.
    fatima

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  37. Whoops...me again. So sorry Elizabeth and friends. I promised you a post on the Seattle show last night and while uploading a number of photos I crashed my site because of a bad widget. It is now up and running. So if you want to see more mini teasers (purchases) ..enjoy.
    fatima

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  38. Hey Fats, the reason that you didn't see this is because the Avatar is not the Friendly Face that we have grown to know and love! :D This is her back up one of both Bruce and Janine on their boat! If you had Bionic eyes like mine, then you would have recognized them sooner! hahahhaha

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  39. You sure it will all go and find a place in your small kitchen? I dream of it! LoL .... you too ... haha!

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  40. Hi Catherine! I Dream of it too! hahah My guess is that it will be a real challenge but I will MAKE CERTAIN that the things that I love the MOST will be where they will be able to be seen. The rest will just have to take a back seat or wait in line! :D

    elizabeth

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  41. Your mushroom tutorial is soooo good! Thanks so much for sharing your endless knowledge.
    All you kitchen things are so beautiful. I love absolutely everything!
    hugs♥,
    Caroline

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    1. Hi Caroline! I Thank You so much for your lovely compliment about the Mushroom Tutorial. It was kinda spur of the moment to do it, since I had promised to do the bowl how-to first, but I guess I had Mushrooms on my mind and I had to get it out! That is the way it goes when doing Miniatures isn't it? :))

      elizabeth

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  42. How clever! Thanks for the mushroom tutorial and all the ideas! I am about to pin each one of them. :) You are so creative. I also love all the finds you got at the mini fair. You have such a great food collection now!

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  43. Hi Lindsey! I am Delighted that you are Pinning them! I spend sooo much time on Pinterest myself and it always Amazes me at how other people think of just the right solution for their many mini needs! What gifts God gives to people when it comes to thinking outside the box! I have already implemented one of Your ideas that you used in your most recent candle Tutorial. I will show you what I did when I post the tutorial of how to make the kitchen bowls. All Credit to you cause you solved a "major" mini problem for me, with YOUR Creative Cleverness! :D

    elizabeth

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  44. You always have such clever ideas to make things =) Thanks for sharing! Everything looks very tasty and realistic!
    Hannah

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  45. Hi Hannah! I am so happy that you are enjoying this tutorial. I liked making the Mushrooms because I could do a lot at one time. I don't think that I would have had as much fun if I tired to make them one at a time. For me, I LOVE the SHORT CUTS! :D

    elizabeth

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  46. Ooooooh brilliant tutorial on the mushrooms E! I knew I would have a blast if I findthe time to hang out here for a while. :)

    Some of the best rooms to do is the kitchen because of all the food, pots pans, utensils etc. Come to think of it, it is probably my most loved room, the kitchen and grocery shopping is one of the best things to do with a love one.

    Everything her looks scrumptious even the chicken :)

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  47. Hello Dear Sans! I also am a Big Fan of mini Kitchens. I love all of the gadgets and gismo's that one is able to fit into it, and I am looking forward to completing mine. I doubt that a third of what you see will make it in, but there is always another project on the horizon somewhere so what is left over will not go to waste! I am so glad that you like the look of the mushrooms Sans but Roosters can be a little tougher to chew, especially This One!! :))

    elizabeth

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  48. Your food is completely lifelike, Elizabeth! The mushrooms are fabulous. Thanks for explaining! The potatoes are great too, and the kitchen will really come to life.

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  49. Hello Nono! Thank YOU for your lovely compliment about my mushrooms and my potatoes! I really enjoy making things for the mini kitchen.... now if only I had somewhere to put all of this Stuff! :D

    elizabeth

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  50. Elizabeth, you have such a great eye for finding perfect little treasures. I love all the stuff you bought and the mushrooms you made are spot on!
    Looking forward to seeing your future kitchen project. I know it will be just adorable.

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    1. Hi Isabelle! It is always such a pleasure to hear from you! Thank you for your lovely comment and just to update a bit, I have FINALLY found the nerve to tackle the kitchen Full Steam Ahead and will have something to show you on the kitchen very soon. Meanwhile please enjoy the mushrooms and feel free to pass the recipe onto MR. CRUMBLE! I shall have to stop by again and see how his Cooking School is taking shape! :))

      elizabeth

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    2. Oh yes! Glad to hear that the wheels on the kitchen project are spinning!
      I will pass on the recipe to Mr Crumble, thank you so much.

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  51. Hi Elizabeth! I am trying to get back into reading blogs. I am very busy on Facebook having discovered that I like it after all. But, it takes up a lot of my time because I have joined many discussion groups! You have a marvelous collection of accessories for your little kitchen! Looks like it was a fun shopping spree! The $2.00 bean basket is a great deal. I like how you made the tomatoes and brown mushrooms. Thanks for sharing your method! The potatoes and carrots turned out looking so delicious that . they make me want to turn them into a stew! Love that rooster and I hope the little people don't eat it. It's so cute! It just wants to stick around the little kitchen and be part of their life. Great how you found those nice fish at Canadian Tire. You have such a good eye when it comes to finding minis wherever you go. I would love to go shipping with you.Thanks loads for the mushroom tutorial. They look good enough to eat. I'll be around again, perhaps tonight. I'm trying to get caught up on your articles.

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  52. Ahahaha, Elizabeth, I hate making mistakes and I am always so careful. I have a tendency to reread what I wrote after it has been printed. I see that I wrote that I would like to go shipping with you instead of shopping. Oh well, perhaps we could borrow Jeanine's yatch and go shipping. It could have been worse as I could have written something else. Are you thinking what I'm thinking. Sorry, I'm cracking up here!

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  53. HAHHAHAHAHAH!!! Lucille your a SCREAM! Thank you for your Shipping News! :D

    elizabeth
    p.s. Glad to see you once again Lucille. How is your doll's house progressing? Last I heard, you were laying your mini kitchen floor.......?

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  54. Dear Elizabeth! There has been no progress on the doll house. I have become very involved in politics and it takes up all my time. The country needs me, you know! Ahahaha! I have abandoned the kitchen floor! It no longer motivated me. However, the huge house is there calling to me every day. It's in my living room near the window and it talks to me all the time but says nothing that motivates me. BUT, perhaps one day it will surprise me and come up with a theme that will have all my creative instincts carrying me forth to the finish line. That's what I'm waiting for!

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  55. Oh Lucille.... I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR! It has been the same thing with the kitchen of the Arthur and I only had 4 rooms to deal with and not the many that you have with yours. But for the past 3 weeks I got tired of not being inspired and decided to just try doing the stairs which everything else revolved around. It was difficult and the results are questionable but after much hesitation they got done and having done them the rest of the kitchen looked less daunting. So my advise which I give to you freely Lucille, and which means nothing because I often don't take it myself, is to do it even if you don't feel like it and get just one more thing done. It took me an entire week to tackle those stairs and I learned a good lesson from it in the process.
    I applaud your Political interest and YES! our country needs good people, like YOU, all the time but remember Lucille, your doll's house needs you too! :D
    The MAPLE LEAF Forever!!!!!!

    elizabeth

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  56. Elizabeth, I raise my glass to The Maple Leaf Forever! Cheers!

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  57. Hi Elizabeth, I nominated you for the Liebster Award (I bent the rules a little bit :-), details are on my Liebster Award post).

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    Replies
    1. Hi Nymphaea! What a Great Honor for you and how wonderful that you thought to "bend the rules" to be able to nominate me; it was a very sweet gesture. But although I have not posted it, I long ago had to refuse an award as I wished to remain an AWARD'S FREE BLOG. However, the fact that you wished to include me is considered an "Award" in and of itself, so even though I will have to Pass on it, your thoughtfulness is both noted and greatly appreciated. :))

      elizabeth

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  58. Hell oElizabeth,
    I am amazed by both your incredible eye for choosing amazing miniatures, and your skills at making and transforming them. everything is just delicious but the mushrooms are a triumph! Brava!
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    Replies
    1. Hey Giac! Fancy seeing you here! :D I am so pleased that you have enjoyed this mushroom tutorial,! This was a very easy one to compose and the results are what is in the bowl of "A Kitchen Prayer-Answered". It is very gratifying to be able to use stuff that I make a lot of, ( which is what I usually do ), because when I'm on a roll, I Am Really On A Roll! :))
      Thank You and a Big Hug Back!

      elizabeth

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  59. I had no idea I could mix gel medium with acrylic paint to paint on plastic. That is a tremendous tip I'll be utilizing a lot. I'm going to try my hand at some mushrooms, the ones you made look great. Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

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  60. Hi Keli! I found out that not only could you paint plastic with this mix but that it will stick like glue when you do. I have used gel medium for the float coat on top of wet spackle and it gives it a rock hard finish, I have used it as a sealer for the egg carton stonework and on foam board and plastic and found that Gel Medium is Very, Very,Versatile. A lot of my discoveries are by happenstance but I know that there are probably a million and one things that are probably yet to be discovered on what all else it can do... Kinda like duct tape! :))
    Have fun with the mushrooms!

    elizabeth

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  61. Elizabeth, I'm drinking coffee now, and I watch your beautiful blog. I had to see all your fantastic posts, I admire your ideas, projects, you are artist with great imagination!
    but now, when I was watching one by one these pictures and I seen last photo ... I asked " What??? tiny mushrooms?? "
    Oh, it's stunning!!! bravo! I have to show these my family! :-)

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    Replies
    1. Thank You Magda! I had a lot of fun with this project as I do with anything that will give me super quick results! :D
      Because I am in the thrift stores and charity shops as regularly as I am, I often find "Good Junk" that I can transform into something needed for my doll's house. The idea for the mushrooms came from the shapes of the stamens, but there are times when I just like something without knowing what I will do with it. The result is a growing pile up of stuff in my studio that keeps waiting for me to "hurry up and get inspired".

      elizabeth :))

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